Hamas the cripple, Gaza the doomed

Hamas may well find a way to survive the current crisis. So may Gaza. But both are crippled now, and at least one may stay that way.

The people of the Gaza Strip are now paying the price for the entire spectrum of Middle East policies, the refusal on principle of Israel and Hamas to recognize one another, the efforts by both Washington and Fatah to freeze out Hamas in order to shore up Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank, the encouragement by Tehran and other Islamist parties of Qassam fire on Sderot.

A short while ago, who would have guessed that if electricity were cut off to the 1.5 million residents of the Strip, it would be the European Union that was responsible?

Who in their right mind would have imagined that the EU, seeking to head off the possibility that Hamas might tax and thus benefit from part of the aid funds earmarked for electricity, might abruptly plunge Gazans into a new prolonged stretch of darkness, unrelieved heat, and food shortages due to lack of refrigeration?

But if Gaza has been cut off from the world, rendered blind, mute, immobile, Hamas is fast becoming paralyzed as well. A year and a half after its election victory, Hamas has virtually run out of room to maneuver.

On Monday, Israeli forces fired a rocket into a car in Gaza, killing local Hamas military commander Mohammed Abu Arab and five of his troops, as they returned from what media reports said was a mortar attack against Israel.

The response from Izz el-Deen al-Qassam, the Hamas military wing, was swift in coming, and caustic, but confined to the verbal. Terming the rocket strike an "ugly Zionist massacre," an Izz el-Deen al-Qassam spokesman said, "If the Zionist enemy fears the possibility of a response with rockets then they should know that we have even more dangerous weapons."

In the past, the Hamas military wing has often demonstrated the truth of that statement. As early as 1996, Izz al-Deen, working in concert with the Islamic Jihad, killed 60 people in four suicide bombings in the space of nine days.

But Hamas' rise to power, and its growing need to be taken seriously as a legitimate political force rather than an agency of terrorism, have relegated the military arm to a disgruntled, and, for the moment at least, muzzled branch within the larger movement.

Even hardline Hamas leaders in Damascus appear to be barring the military wing from a major escalation in Gaza.

In this sense, it may be said that, from the military standpoint with respect to the Gaza front, Hamas has become Israel, its hands effectively tied by a wide range of political and diplomatic considerations.

The first difference, of course, is that Israel's economy continues to boom, undeterred by war last summer in Lebanon, unaffected by threats of war this summer.

The second difference is that Israel has found the perfect foil in Hamas, which, if it fails to act against Israeli attacks, is viewed at home as weak, and if it decides to attack - whether by rocket, mortar, sub-machinegun ambush or suicide bombing - is viewed abroad as terrorist.

Hamas' war against Fatah will not soon be forgotten in the Muslim world, and, in many quarters, will remain unforgiven.

Meanwhile, the Olmert administration, the Bush White House, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, urged on by Abbas, continue to prove themselves willing to sacrifice Gaza for the sake of disabling Hamas.

The reason that they have been able to do so goes to the heart of the plight of the people of Gaza, and the ever-increasing ease with which the world ignores it.

At one time, the suffering of the people of Gaza was of critical importance on the international agenda. Every Israeli incursion, even every power outage, was duly reported, often reaching the UN Security Council.

Now, however, the world - much of the world media included - has turned its back on Gaza, even as Gaza sinks into new depths of distress.

Call it, if you like, the "Bangladesh Effect." It is the inborn inability of human beings to comprehend and respond to catastrophe affecting large numbers of far-away people for a prolonged period of time - and therefore to cease to care.

The turning of a blind eye is, of course, made that much easier when the media finds it difficult or lethally dangerous to actually observe the situation on the ground.

In the case of Bangladesh, the deaths of tens of thousands over years of flood and famine and cyclone have inured the world to its suffering. It may be said that some in the Western world dismiss what appears to be serial tragedy as somehow deterministic, that the people of many a Third World nation are doomed to disaster, that they, in a sense, are born to die.

In the case of Gaza, there is an additional element, the sense that the Palestinians are able but unwilling to help themselves out of a terrible situation. It is a sense that is as simplistic and dismissive and, therefore, as wrongheaded, as citing the Israeli occupation for all of Gaza's ills, past and future.

Still, this is the issue with which Hamas must come to terms, and soon. The parameters of the conflict are changing. Hamas can no longer depend on grass-roots anger against Israel to deflect ire against Hamas. Even here in the Holy Land, anger and vengeance and the culture of blaming the other guy, have their limits.

When Hamas was formed in 1987, it pledged to eradicate the occupation and, in due course, the State of Israel. Hamas is in charge now, and the lights are off. Hamas is in charge now, and it is time to work on eradicating poverty, restoring health care, and attending to education.

Israel has responsibilities to participate in the effort, but as long as Hamas cannot bring itself to rescind its pledge to erase the Jewish state by force, the Jewish state can convince the world that it need do nothing.

There has perhaps never been a coalition the likes of which opposes Hamas at this point.

Perhaps even more than it is a prison, Gaza is a hostage situation. Gaza is the hostage of three enemies, Israel, Fatah, and Hamas. But for hostages to be freed, someone has to care about them.

The goal of Hamas was to end the occupation and eradicate Israel. But sell that, at this point to the people you used to feed, clothe, educate. Sell that to the people who may be losing - may have already lost - an entire generation.

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just because you omit the pogroms in alleppo bagdad,hebron ,jaffa in the 1920's and 1930's does not mean they did not occur.jews have always delegated to the dhimmies of arab society.not being able to testify against a moslem in court,not being able to ride a horse.and many other restrictions.before you post you should do some research,lest you lose credibility

True, they may not have accurate guidance systems, but they certainly are pointed in the direction of Sderot...
That doesn't mean they're harmless, far from it...
Your statement that the "often fall on the Palestinians themselves", should help convince some of them, that when children play with unexploded ordnance and are killed or hurt, it was fired by their brothers and fathers

S, I am glad we share one friend. Not many on this board who share my (reasonable) views, so the idea is to get some help sometimes from people who only share part of the view.
Lakshmi is an anti-zionist, and I don't deal with her on zionism. There are other people who take her on on this. But I can get help from her on anti-settler matters, etc, so at least we have something in common. As Churchill said,
"If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. "

S, I am glad we share one friend. Not many on this board who share my (reasonable) views, so the idea is to get some help sometimes from people who only share part of the view.
Lakshmi is an anti-zionist, and I don't deal with her on zionism. There are other people who take her on on this. But I can get help from her on anti-settler matters, etc, so at least we have something in common. As Churchill said,
"If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favorable reference to the devil in the House of Commons. "

"Mr. S, are we ever going to be rubbing noses?"
(Tosefta)
I doubt it.
Although we share much, and I actually admire some of your disquisitions, I will never, ever, put up with your (here I repeat myself) vituperations.
Besides, we also differ, even... mucher. Finally, we don't share friends - Lakshmi comes to mind; the only exception - dana.
Cipora is indeed a special case. In my view she is extremely earnest, in the very best way one can interpret this word; that deserves admiration. Your view and treatment of earnestness is malevolent.

S, I actually do not know the picture, but I did know that in the Middle Ages people had to wear cone hats as a sign of shame.
I don't see why this would be a problem with calling one a Cone-Head. I actually gave this term my own meaning, but I more recently checked to see that it is sometimes used currently instead of egg-head (for an intellectual). My own meaning has nothing to do with being an intellectual, but with being an Alien, which may have different body features. I subscribe to the cone-head term. Just because the letter A was used at some point to designate adulterers does not mean the letter should be abolished. The inquisition is long gone, along with their cone hats.
As far as estimating people here, Margie of TA strikes me as a quite a shallow person, Jasmine might fall into a similar category (but had less to do with her), and Angelique I had one discussion with - not too impressive, but may depend on the topic; I will wait for more. Dana is very intelligent, but as far as Israel, is too quick to condemn. There are some hidden emotions there.
I don?t believe I am in a position to judge many of the people Dana mentioned, but a scale of dumb, dumber, dumbest for apologist I will put Gabe1 as dumbest, Fox and TonyL as dumber, and Jeff Northridge as dumb. Danite is one step up. I am leaving the ladies out, but Cipora is in a class by herself in any case.
Mr. S, are we ever going to be rubbing noses?

open google on "Procession of Flagellants, 1815-19 by Francisco Jose de Goya y Lucientes". You will find the paintings with the cone hats.
It is a famous painting presently in a Madrid museum.
Flagellation was a form of penance in the Christian church later condemned as heretical. What exactly it means (basicaly hurting yourself) you can find in any dictionary.
Seeing the painting, you wouldn't want to call anyone that way, even your bitterest enemy. But Tosefta surely knows the painting...

Well, by way of explanation; margie and I had our run-ins, as I did with jasmine (can't expect her to be happy with the pod designation. not to worry - you are not on any list - yet??). That's how it is when people see a situation from different sides. Had I been on margie's side, she'd have probably found me a 'deep thinker". as would your jasmine. I think people can have a little fun with the list as assignments can be made from our side too (not by me of course).
Didn't know anything about cone's connection to goya's painting. Tell me about it - maybe change name. It's from tosefta's orginal 'cone-heads" taken after alien characters in "third rock from the sun" sitcom. They were actually smart, but different (hey, it's a sitcom).
Tx for the exception (belated compliment? must be.. hepburn..). Sorry but your previous post didn't make it. Real bad dead time zones past week. Lost several posts too. Did not mean as guilt trip. too bad for missed French lesson. make-up homework?

More and more people address you as I did on our first meeting - like from Margie in TA: "My first and lasting impression of you was superficiality" and Jasmine Murphy makes a similar observation. I actually take exception in that I found a feminine quality in it - a la Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's... but for a scientist, well, I don't know. By the way, Tosefta's "cone" is extremely insulting. Refresh your memory on Goya's paintings and you will understand!

Totalitarian movements will always disregard humanitarian values, hence they will not hesitate to attack civilians indiscriminately. What Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, and the goups fighting in Iraq have in common is their total disregard for civilian life. The only reason that Hamas and Hezbollah have not killed many more Israelis is that thus far Israel has been able to defend against their attacks. Neither group, do I believe, would have any moral compunction against an outright slaughter of Israeli civilians. Nor is it in any way proven that they would be satisfied with any concessions from Israel. Nationalist movements do not crave the territory of another sovereign state. Hezbollah's attack last year was an unprovoked act of war with no nationalist aims. The international community saw it as such.

If your argument were correct, then it would be easy to differentiate among the "nationalists" and the "internationalists" in Iraq. Yet, it is impossible to do so since the Sunnis are often allied with Al Qaeda, and the Shiaa are allied with Iran. Furthermore, the aims of Al Qaeda are in many respects nationalist. They first want to "liberate" Saudi Arabia. Their attack on America was inspired by their objection to the stationing of American troops there. Indeed, their major goal is the Islamisation of Islamic countries. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in the 1920's, and of which Al Qaeda is an offspring, originally had an anti-colonial aim. It is never possible to separate religious fundamentally inspired movements, with internationalist overtones, from movements with nationalist aspirations. In my view, the real separation should be made between movements that are totalitarian, be they religious or not, and movements that are essentially democratic.

You don't read these columns nearly attentively enough. Your judgement is way out. Angelique sent your teacher, Tosefta, running for cover the other day.
If that's the quality of the Israel third defense team then you apologists have lost out completely.

Dana, I think Cipora is in a class all her own (I am very serious) and one needs to designate a name for her position. Perhaps "pointy cone" will be acceptable?
In addition to being a relentless apologist she also has little sense of Earthly reality so the apologetics collapse of their own weight once you look into them. It is not mere intelligence (which the regular cones don't have too much of) but a genuine Alien unclarity.
P.S. On the apologetics scale, Danite is a full blooded cone.

Drones are those who go on and on harping on some pet idea, finding every opportunity to push it, no matter what the topic is. Some cones do drone (actually they all do eventually). E.g., Jeff N is a total drone when it comes to "occupation", Cones resort to drone - or harp - when they can't think up anything new beyond a certain point.
I think drones are best left to the lawyers' squad. They don't mind a little droning now and then; comes with the territory..(BTW,we do have drones on our side too; but thanks god, far fewer).
Drones examples: Hal (aborigines-man), paul harris (1927 mandate), +BEN JABO, FOX (honor and humiliation), 3rd temple nuts, etc.
It's only a little sad when seeing those capable of independent thought taken over by Pods, e.g., when circling the wagons is called for. I have 5 examples of turn-Pods; no names (just in case). Luckily these never become cones (heart not really in it).
PS glad to see the apology to S. You do share a disdain for Olmert, after all.

You were right, I used 'cones" as short for "cone heads" - a term best reserved for those who find many ways to twist an argument or a fact, till it fits a pre-conceived ideology. To me, these would be the Class A Apologists, who mastered the kind of logic needed to fit a square peg into a round hole, using variants catholic church theologists were so good at wiielding in the middle ages (too bad many jews are only now reaching this stage).
Examples Cones: Cipora, Jeff N, victor hardman
Examples Cones-in-waiting: danite, margie in TA, TonyL, Jon Feigenbaum
Pod people you got right too - they snatch the bodies + minds of their victims who once were thinking - possibly caring - humans. Usually seen reworking platitudes or regurgitating cone-logic. The more motivated, less lazy cones use pods as cheering gallery syncopaths. Good for side swipes on a dull day.
Examples Pod people: Gina, Gil, channaS, Angelique, jasmine Murphy, maria, avrum, many more.
Not to confuse pods and Drones!

CLK #267
?They can, with a straight face, differentiate between "local" and "international" terror.?
Tell me Cipora, what do you see are the differences between your terrorists groups; the Stern Gang, Haganah, Irgun, etc., and Hamas and Hezbollah? Include Al Qaeda as well. I am very interested to hear what you have to say.
In my opinion, Al Qaeda is distinctly apart from the Jewish or Palestinian terrorist groups, or other groups with nationalist aims. They are intent on establishing a new world order with Islam as its only religion.
The other two groups are terrorist or freedom fighters; depending on which side, you are on. Myself, not having a side except America?s, I would label them both freedom fighters. Unfortunately, neither side is willing to compromise on their goals. Both would engage in different degrees of ethnic cleansing. Neither has much left anymore, in having more of a moral position than the other. Regrettably, America has lost as well.
I recall that members of the Jewish groups going on to high-level positions after they developed into political parties after independence. Maybe they could continue to be a role model for the Palestinians, in becoming, a more reasonable political partner

1. "Tosefta`s vituperations make me vomit." - S
I am sorry, S. I believe we were dealing with "the massses are asses", as in the Yiddish proverbs "Oylem Goylem". Perhaps you were not aware, but the masses were still there. You said you were too tall for as ass, so I said you could be a giraffe. Didn't really mean to offend you, just to keep you in the crowd we were discussing. (But in the back of the crowd, in consideration of the shorter asses.) Please forgive me and let us rub noses in peace.
2. "Someone must take on the cones, the pod people and the drones. glad it`s him & not me.." - Dana
Dana, your English is much better than mine, especially when I need to resort to non-technical language. I have an idea of what a "drone" is, but what are cones? (I did discover a cone-head in this TB, but I am not sure the meaning is the same.) And what are "pod people"? Are these people who come out of pods, such as in the "body snatchers"? Can you name an example? In any case, help is needed desperately and you are welcome to join in the struggle against the sons of darkness.

lingua (f)- tongue (Latin).
I mean that you mount a glib, flashy show as far as words go dana, but logic there is none. I'm not surprised that you don't understand peter's ideas.
Is he an idea-logue? (yes, I know that's not what you said). He's drawn up a peace plan with provision for all - hardly a typical right wing ploy. My first and lasting impression of you was superficiality and rigid inflexibility, and odd and restrictive combination. Perhaps you can still give me some reason to change my opinion.
Amusing that you don't realise you're an apologist.
If anyone except Arab bashers or Israel bashers is interested in this peace plan contact me at margieintelaviv@yahoo.co.uk.

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